Red Bull issue defiant message after significant Max Verstappen extension

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has issued a defiant message following the significant announcement that Max Verstappen has signed a new contract until the end of 2030. 

The Frenchman has declared that the Milton Keynes-based outfit are "not done yet" and have a bright future ahead, now that Verstappen has committed to the team beyond the current season.

Over recent months, the Dutchman has been linked to the likes of McLaren, Mercedes and even with an exit from the championship altogether; however, he has chosen to stay. 

It represents a major relief for Red Bull, who keep its star driver at least until the end of the first season of the next regulatory cycle. 

Verstappen has been a significant critic of the current power unit regulations which were introduced at the start of 2026, although will now work with Red Bull throughout the entirety of it.

"Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for everyone at Red Bull, as well as F1 and motorsport as a whole," said Mekies.

"Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Red Bull special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention. 

"His impact on our team and on Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational, and he has been fundamental to everything we have accomplished together.

"The decision to continue our journey together is rooted in the trust Max and the Team have built over many years, as well as Max’s confidence in our people, our culture and our vision for the future. Forged through championship-winning success, intense battles and challenging moments alike, this relationship has only grown stronger – making it one of Formula 1's greatest success stories.

"But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write. Together, we continue to raise the bar with the same determination that brought us to the top of the sport and an even greater faith in what we can achieve. Much will evolve as we move forward, but our ambition remains unchanged - united by one direction, one vision, one Team."